Thunderstorms blamed for at least 6 deaths in Michigan

AP PhotoA heavily damaged garage and home is seen in Bingham Township, near St. Johns, Mich., Friday, June 6, 2008. Thunderstorms caused scattered power outages and damage Friday across much of Michigan's Lower Peninsula.

DETROIT (AP) _ Intense storms that battered Michigan's Lower Peninsula over the weekend were blamed for the deaths of at least six people, widespread property damage and the loss of electrical service to more than 520,000 homes and businesses.

The deaths happened Sunday as the result of flooding and strong winds that downed trees and power lines. Flood warnings remained in effect Monday for much of western Lower Michigan, according to the National Weather Service.

Two people delivering newspapers for The Grand Rapids Press drowned after the road beneath their car collapsed, plunging it into a ravine near Saugatuck. Two other people were killed by falling trees, a man apparently drowned while tending to a dam and a woman died when high winds blew a recreational vehicle on top of her, authorities said.

The newspaper delivery persons died in Allegan County's Saugatuck Township, about 40 miles southwest of Grand Rapids and 160 miles west of Detroit.

Both victims lived in Grand Junction, said state police Lt. Dave Greydanus. He identified them as Clarissa J. Green, 51, and her 17-year-old nephew, Dean A. Taylor.

A thunderstorm that dumped more than 5 inches of rain in some areas Saturday night caused the road to wash out and collapse under the weight of the car, which fell 40 to 50 feet to the bottom of a ravine, killing both victims, authorities said.

The newspaper said Green's son-in-law, Larry Huff, is a contractor who delivers newspaper bundles for other carriers and also has his own delivery route. Green was delivering newspapers for Huff's route, the Press said.

"We deeply regret the deaths of family members of one of our delivery contractors this morning," said the newspaper's publisher, Dan Gaydou. "Carriers and delivery agents are diligent about fulfilling their commitments and are often faced with difficult weather situations."

In Eaton County, a woman was killed when high winds blew a recreational vehicle over and on top of her in Delta Township, about five miles west of downtown Lansing, Sheriff Mike Raines told the Lansing State Journal. No other information was immediately available.

Three deaths happened in Ottawa County.

Ursula Swidewinski, 53, died after a tree fell on her as she went to secure her pole barn in Conklin, about 15 miles northwest of Grand Rapids, county sheriff's Sgt. Keith Garvelink told the Grand Rapids newspaper.

Sheriff's divers found the body of 76-year-old John Pekich of West Olive downstream from the Worley Drain Dam in Robinson Township. Pekich was known for tending the dam and probably was doing so when he fell into the fast-moving waters, the department said.

Jeff Schrier | The Saginaw NewsJo-Ana L. Kanuszewski, 50, inspects the damage that a huge tree caused at her home, Saturday, June 7, 2008 in Saginaw, Mich. . Her home was heavily damaged when a large tree fell onto the house and punctured the roof causing a large hole.

In Spring Lake, a motorist died when a tree limb fell on his car Sunday, The Muskegon Chronicle reported. Roger DeYoung, chief of the Spring Lake/Ferrysburg Police Department, identified the victim as 26-year-old Chad Daniel Dushane.

CMS Energy Corp.'s Consumers Energy unit said about 104,000 out of more than 320,000 customers in more than 2,200 locations affected by storms that first hit the area Friday remained without power on Monday. About 70 crews from Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio were on their way to help restore power.

CMS Energy spokesman Tim Pietryga said electricity should be restored to most customers by Wednesday night, although some in rural areas probably will be without power until sometime Thursday.

DTE Energy Co.'s Detroit Edison unit said about 135,000 of about 200,000 affected customers were without service as of 10 a.m. Monday, including 80,000 in Oakland County, 19,000 in Macomb County and 13,000 in Wayne County. Spokesman Len Singer said power in most locations probably will not be restored until sometime Tuesday, while "undoubtedly" some areas will be without electricity into Wednesday.

About 7,100 Lansing Board of Water and Light customers were without power Monday morning, spokesman Mark Nixon said. Crews had restored service to all but 5,800 of the 19,000 customers who lost power Saturday before Sunday's storms hit, he said.

"We're saying it still may be late Wednesday before all power is restored to every customer," he said.

The storms struck on the 55th anniversary of the deadliest tornado in Michigan history. The June 8, 1953, tornado that struck the northern Flint community of Beecher and left a 23-mile path of destruction killed 116 people and injured another 844 along its path.

Jeff Schrier | The Saginaw NewsA large tree lays shattered over the road and on a house on Saturday, June 7, 2008 in Saginaw, Mich. Crews surveyed damage Saturday after thunderstorms caused scattered power outages and uprooted trees across Michigan's Lower Peninsula, forcing residents to clean up the mess left behind.